Christmas staples: Buds, twigs, branches and berries

There's nothing like the real thing for Christmas decorating.  You get to go for a little adventure in the woods with your trusty snippers, and come away with a red nose and a trunk full of inspiration.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes you just have to go to your backyard, but there's a limit to happy cutting in a small space. That's where I got the materials for my front porch planters, if you don't count the leftovers from my summer planter and feathers I've recycled several times.   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtjnRqU4uVwzc0cRAtT9dns-uJQVW4UWtPp6jB6iUwRFrekPjZIC1kFP9tadOPm0vPXHST12bnLgoCmUfHcpS3cKyf9mN7tIAxeSuRe3ROoIzPpbG5fg4F000YbqOWPLmUKeaanm_3i6/s1600/close+up+planter_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas planter, red dogwood, pine, " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtjnRqU4uVwzc0cRAtT9dns-uJQVW4UWtPp6jB6iUwRFrekPjZIC1kFP9tadOPm0vPXHST12bnLgoCmUfHcpS3cKyf9mN7tIAxeSuRe3ROoIzPpbG5fg4F000YbqOWPLmUKeaanm_3i6/s1600/close+up+planter_01.JPG" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Hubby made me a trough box for my trunk/ottoman.  I knew what I wanted to put in it, but I couldn't hack away anything else in my yard. My sister came to the rescue.  Remember last year when I posted about her <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2013/12/a-nature-inspired-christmas.html">nature inspire Christmas</a>?  She  had already made her yearly trip for bough and twig cutting to complete her planters and agreed to take me to her spot. Bonanza.<br /><br />Here's her efforts ...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcCwOARFXeodg85h9iS10Rm6LfzXqQaiG06WTcd-AjiF_RFBhBBc-oCQXMbitMMZQuBdSut_68SS1EwMvdh_UMqzIw-Zy7GCvfYfNcA-oPRQWLTiJcA1J_E2YNrpWlrgOCZksEPna-Hxk/s1600/right+planter+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas planter, red flowers" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcCwOARFXeodg85h9iS10Rm6LfzXqQaiG06WTcd-AjiF_RFBhBBc-oCQXMbitMMZQuBdSut_68SS1EwMvdh_UMqzIw-Zy7GCvfYfNcA-oPRQWLTiJcA1J_E2YNrpWlrgOCZksEPna-Hxk/s1600/right+planter+.JPG" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL_bxyqfZkmaRX6CACpA5hSZ8yofM95Xow6qmVInAc_PU1qHRJUZ1kLyQKmNR2j9QeT95ge4RSCDx8NgnTcFNib7m9w7XJXy0lnUvUL0DagMZ8g-6rkw0VuJbzie48bRx77EtfL73K3Z6/s1600/back+planter_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="twig vase, red flowers, yellow flowers, Christmas" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL_bxyqfZkmaRX6CACpA5hSZ8yofM95Xow6qmVInAc_PU1qHRJUZ1kLyQKmNR2j9QeT95ge4RSCDx8NgnTcFNib7m9w7XJXy0lnUvUL0DagMZ8g-6rkw0VuJbzie48bRx77EtfL73K3Z6/s1600/back+planter_01.JPG" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="310" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you love that hit of yellow with the red?</div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Now on to my family affair project..</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikNs2edEvz_mcYqjWaTzvuUEpuRpS_GjBrLfni0DbtfEOMJJQ-Q1u-lXH_fu8iD8IHKHRpFpxaOB7-seyxncJ4NUAsGPQMDPgJJms3WgxuSuZm4MXYPG7HZtnRS9XDLqfoDKG-lQrjPy/s1600/mixed+metals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="gold, silver spray painted box" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikNs2edEvz_mcYqjWaTzvuUEpuRpS_GjBrLfni0DbtfEOMJJQ-Q1u-lXH_fu8iD8IHKHRpFpxaOB7-seyxncJ4NUAsGPQMDPgJJms3WgxuSuZm4MXYPG7HZtnRS9XDLqfoDKG-lQrjPy/s1600/mixed+metals.jpg" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="400" /></a></div><br />My son sprayed the box for me with  Krylon Colormaster  in nickel.  Then I taped it off and used gold to create two stripes around the box.  I figured I may as well get with the mixed metal trend. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqfvnoMTxWbgVlcEto_cwjOW2BUhuSifeRVzlcTvDaJFQuyg42CbhYxv0QLwfRyd0Vhv5p-V4vwUppSoDDOaMAu8ulyz_MQF9FlOBacrXpYjzl8uuCT7Mwds9MYay8A1TbmsiszPidsZn/s1600/twigs-greenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alder twigs, fir, candles, trough box,LED candles" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqfvnoMTxWbgVlcEto_cwjOW2BUhuSifeRVzlcTvDaJFQuyg42CbhYxv0QLwfRyd0Vhv5p-V4vwUppSoDDOaMAu8ulyz_MQF9FlOBacrXpYjzl8uuCT7Mwds9MYay8A1TbmsiszPidsZn/s1600/twigs-greenery.jpg" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="400" /></a></div><br />  I had three LED candles (so safe and they actually flicker- daughter tip from Costco) I wanted to use and went to the dollar store and bought seven square glasses  to put oasis in to keep the boughs fresh. The alder twigs looked a little boring so they got the spray treatment too in a mix of nickel and gold. <br />Then I began the arrangement. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt5yHwdp2jedMmqMb5dlCAt1qgED1bd0a_30I2dPY7lp5w_uTfvTf4ywkZB-PfLIBipqaPA1lkSC-QPXHWVfKIXaknht40DeIjTh7brHdyaTaxsuOVD6AF4GeKi3zhooW12XloR_1odaq/s1600/bench+planter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="trough box, candles, greenery, twig balls" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt5yHwdp2jedMmqMb5dlCAt1qgED1bd0a_30I2dPY7lp5w_uTfvTf4ywkZB-PfLIBipqaPA1lkSC-QPXHWVfKIXaknht40DeIjTh7brHdyaTaxsuOVD6AF4GeKi3zhooW12XloR_1odaq/s1600/bench+planter.jpg" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Fresh flowers are a must anytime of year.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_5aH00g8UEjnOlt3oY5dLBdO41PWULPSVE2ORGA2_gjcysmjySSPZAwjMHX2t4R0c5x1LsVzaoK-1sgfWokfNPjj8TWMq7glyHjaBD4xAb0gDFbUOdxx7mDlcpeHR7iIn7-XStXUX3QJ/s1600/DSCN0809_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_5aH00g8UEjnOlt3oY5dLBdO41PWULPSVE2ORGA2_gjcysmjySSPZAwjMHX2t4R0c5x1LsVzaoK-1sgfWokfNPjj8TWMq7glyHjaBD4xAb0gDFbUOdxx7mDlcpeHR7iIn7-XStXUX3QJ/s1600/DSCN0809_01.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><br />A favourite vase, fluted and textured makes a stunning centerpiece on my coffee table. Nothing else is needed.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQLELZRUzXcari4Vi2h2qFWuDXIb5SzZTYXaNE4svOBd2T_KQlPrc7ReYaDwymL8mxfrI9eWN4vmOH9BGLNdO8_A_vZpiGEBQi1L93IeaTixJu13FzNos0E-_PTHEIsB24Rmt_-bAORpK/s1600/DSCN0814_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="red berry wreath, white carnations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQLELZRUzXcari4Vi2h2qFWuDXIb5SzZTYXaNE4svOBd2T_KQlPrc7ReYaDwymL8mxfrI9eWN4vmOH9BGLNdO8_A_vZpiGEBQi1L93IeaTixJu13FzNos0E-_PTHEIsB24Rmt_-bAORpK/s1600/DSCN0814_01.JPG" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="290" /></a></div><br />And my favourite berry wreath that has been in every room in the house over the years surrounds a vase of baby's breath and white carnations.  You can tell I like my flowers simple and usually white because they work anywhere with anything, especially with red.  <br /><br /><br />I was very lazy with the  dining room  additions....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWLEzLx5T9x0Y7AnfGCue0M1da37I8VJ77KcRqf1uir4I3r4WtMUZfoTmEYh8MGu0D0YXfDqflqzi2nxSfbb04Yk6DxF2KTRxgT1khrkb7HA_aovxhp8yElfmr7opBzv3NrZ70WCjwsNA/s1600/dining+room+vignette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dining table vignette, white reindeer, LED candles, Norfolk pine, cranberries" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWLEzLx5T9x0Y7AnfGCue0M1da37I8VJ77KcRqf1uir4I3r4WtMUZfoTmEYh8MGu0D0YXfDqflqzi2nxSfbb04Yk6DxF2KTRxgT1khrkb7HA_aovxhp8yElfmr7opBzv3NrZ70WCjwsNA/s1600/dining+room+vignette.jpg" title="Christmas staples: Buds, twigs,branches and berries" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm not a theme driven decorator, but  nature is always a staple in whatever I do.  My new purchase for 2014 was two white carved reindeer.  I always buy a green plant;  this year it is a Norfolk pine in a faux burlap container.  May it live for awhile. <br /><br />For my dining table  centrepiece I simply added some fresh cranberries to my <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2012/11/a-must-have-vase.html">Boblen vase</a>, and used it as a candle holder, added a string of red wooden beads  (at least 30 years old) and fake red berries  to the well used  vase of twigs.  In honour of the season I changed my tray to my favourite white one with the silver leaf birds and leaves. <br /><br />And wise silver bird  looks on knowingly because he's seen it all before.<br /><br />

Christmas staples: Buds, twigs, branches and berries

There's nothing like the real thing for Christmas decorating.  You get to go for a little adventure in the woods with your trusty snippe...

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Creating natural arrangements for Christmas

<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arranging natural materials creatively requires knowledge of balance and proportion.  Some people seem to have natural instincts in this area, but  the skills can be learned from floral arranging books. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBiGcifat5pxM5_ZuIF7ET1v9HjDMLgkKQoC3EeMHVz6D4Gdn3ubY7BBwYcu5OeLacds70x17Evi6eRhr0jNwJ_5zXkNKVtqjcEDIjFam4fZ7pQDkNqkYo8rFn88Is2uPYRdAhjOlzHIU/s1600/Christmas+container+with+birch+magnolia+twigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas planter birch magnolia twigs" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBiGcifat5pxM5_ZuIF7ET1v9HjDMLgkKQoC3EeMHVz6D4Gdn3ubY7BBwYcu5OeLacds70x17Evi6eRhr0jNwJ_5zXkNKVtqjcEDIjFam4fZ7pQDkNqkYo8rFn88Is2uPYRdAhjOlzHIU/s400/Christmas+container+with+birch+magnolia+twigs.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.bellechosehome.com/2010/12/christmas-front-entrance-lanterns-urns.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source </span></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;">By using the following <b>four elements</b> you can achieve a stunning Christmas planter. <br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Droopers (Spillers)</b></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">While there are many places/ways to start, I usually start with the hanging material  to cover the edges of the pot. These have to be set in almost horizontally  as the cedar in the above image.  You want it to droop gracefully and cover the edges of the pot. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- Spanish broom</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-  pine</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-spruce branches</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- cedar </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2.Uprights (Thrillers)</b></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes if I have interesting tall materials  I arrange them first to establish height and then work out and down.  Thrillers are always tall and act as the apex of the triangle design. </span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- dried goats beard stalks</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- corkscrew hazel</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- yellow - twig dogwood, red dogwood</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- spirea with dried seed heads</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- forsythia stalks (which are very light and work well with dogwood branches)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">-birch sticks </span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yU57wP6O4DklXp-E4VmEnqn4RSdOv6r4qFvcfztin_oijxFXGiR-K4o566miK8gBowHFt-RtFNW6ab6knTxvpv_GUO7Uf-PdOjGph5_lon8of3GA0dIj1DYbiwiqB1jdBgz_5xeiQXE/s1600/Christmas_Decor_Inspiration_20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yU57wP6O4DklXp-E4VmEnqn4RSdOv6r4qFvcfztin_oijxFXGiR-K4o566miK8gBowHFt-RtFNW6ab6knTxvpv_GUO7Uf-PdOjGph5_lon8of3GA0dIj1DYbiwiqB1jdBgz_5xeiQXE/s400/Christmas_Decor_Inspiration_20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://gardendreams.ca/jgd/">source </a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0asec2silxqgFLZpBw2iUsoNhhgetMWngZei7ieJxqd8hvyQKVTHzuuJv_4g0SNKzTu3N8fRlOf0aUWrivwH8itw7gBSloyxkk9vrzU7YM_HGN8A2VE956ga4f4mUXPe4-JDwg2_GxFvy/s1600/spruce+berries+pinecones+planter+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="berries spruce pinecones Christmas planter Designing Home" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0asec2silxqgFLZpBw2iUsoNhhgetMWngZei7ieJxqd8hvyQKVTHzuuJv_4g0SNKzTu3N8fRlOf0aUWrivwH8itw7gBSloyxkk9vrzU7YM_HGN8A2VE956ga4f4mUXPe4-JDwg2_GxFvy/s400/spruce+berries+pinecones+planter+.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://5thandstate.blogspot.ca/2011/11/winter-urns-tutorial.html"> source </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ5W4AocWkm_1StPiPx9V7RApsOquGvcjD96GmD9FDU9AetOI-NqveuWDoVT4zxmx5A8VMLktcyk7yWUeNooIXOZ8M2Ldn0VtBEkzmcE5xkn15nsNTBjmsNzbQI9jcjPxXxYeMzeFE6uF/s1600/Christmas+planter+with+red+twigs+and+ornaments+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Twigs make great uprights, and don't forget that small potted trees can be placed in the middle of a planter and other materials can be added to cover the pot. A planter within a planter!<b><br /></b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. Fillers </b></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once these two aspects have been arranged you need to fill our the arrangement (fillers) by applying the branches at roughly 45 degrees. I have lots of possibilities in my garden:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- boxwood</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-yellow mound cedar</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- holly </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- blue spruce</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- rhododendron leaves </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- dried hydrangea blooms</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0asec2silxqgFLZpBw2iUsoNhhgetMWngZei7ieJxqd8hvyQKVTHzuuJv_4g0SNKzTu3N8fRlOf0aUWrivwH8itw7gBSloyxkk9vrzU7YM_HGN8A2VE956ga4f4mUXPe4-JDwg2_GxFvy/s1600/spruce+berries+pinecones+planter+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ5W4AocWkm_1StPiPx9V7RApsOquGvcjD96GmD9FDU9AetOI-NqveuWDoVT4zxmx5A8VMLktcyk7yWUeNooIXOZ8M2Ldn0VtBEkzmcE5xkn15nsNTBjmsNzbQI9jcjPxXxYeMzeFE6uF/s1600/Christmas+planter+with+red+twigs+and+ornaments+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ5W4AocWkm_1StPiPx9V7RApsOquGvcjD96GmD9FDU9AetOI-NqveuWDoVT4zxmx5A8VMLktcyk7yWUeNooIXOZ8M2Ldn0VtBEkzmcE5xkn15nsNTBjmsNzbQI9jcjPxXxYeMzeFE6uF/s400/Christmas+planter+with+red+twigs+and+ornaments+.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://5thandstate.blogspot.ca/2013/12/winter-containers-2013.html">source  </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. Accents </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">These are the final touches that hightlight and brighten your arrangements.   The sky is the limit here. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- sprayed grapevine spheres</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- brightly coloured plastic ornaments </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- wooden Santas</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- plastic ribbons  </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">- plastic Christmas flowers</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- artificial birds </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">-woven twig stars</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">-toys </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- small colourful lanterns</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- large sphere shaped ornaments </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">- ribbons </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnWyaJKXwhACooMUe3pKaq8SbWVQTstKinB0aQ8biCz-m6wIcYqhudK-zsGOSdI0VWzdSosrSX3dSugLF8PSVtspdse4-z-j95MJoI_V4KqTisN0JEqtSviRlChw6pfeaWGIc312MjLUj/s1600/DSCN540766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB7Q-rrUK9EeXGYVvr8SFnWtBYYwmrV3Us4J9tID-p68GY-onnwiZImQylYyXGRqdKnwL32UtkiygxmE0mBi3vlGDnlQDTpOOf_VoXPYEF-spw4SvjlkwMmVyDPK0hiDD-AqphTqg1tVX/s1600/ChristmasArrangement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB7Q-rrUK9EeXGYVvr8SFnWtBYYwmrV3Us4J9tID-p68GY-onnwiZImQylYyXGRqdKnwL32UtkiygxmE0mBi3vlGDnlQDTpOOf_VoXPYEF-spw4SvjlkwMmVyDPK0hiDD-AqphTqg1tVX/s400/ChristmasArrangement.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://inthegardenradio.com/v.php?pg=9">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">berries, pinecones, pods </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpn2GqwqWNTEoTFul7MGAUQy7-FYLwzToRt9JvXA_S0u5nEbqP9CyrIFYIHp_dwifdc3kRevAT0MizygOnYDfjf_WCA1_3bfyJrzDIaqgBzgsXG2WJ9AOjCh_uLAtuFGkF6c0IuhxCkc5/s1600/centerpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpn2GqwqWNTEoTFul7MGAUQy7-FYLwzToRt9JvXA_S0u5nEbqP9CyrIFYIHp_dwifdc3kRevAT0MizygOnYDfjf_WCA1_3bfyJrzDIaqgBzgsXG2WJ9AOjCh_uLAtuFGkF6c0IuhxCkc5/s400/centerpiece.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.katesgarden.ca/events.html">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">fresh fruit or plastic fruit</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_iY27-RGjt_ODKnIC05lmHNTbkK9KG_LOQglfsOBpTcRoQrnNmtxxEkSMqAaIDfJ7WzV5HtMhCPZbp9mYUbquLGvG3kLRjYKNLzZzjifoCO80rSeU75fyR4vfJyO84ZFum6Vec3jHNZN/s1600/imageso8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_iY27-RGjt_ODKnIC05lmHNTbkK9KG_LOQglfsOBpTcRoQrnNmtxxEkSMqAaIDfJ7WzV5HtMhCPZbp9mYUbquLGvG3kLRjYKNLzZzjifoCO80rSeU75fyR4vfJyO84ZFum6Vec3jHNZN/s400/imageso8.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">and even birdhouses!</span></div></div><span style="font-family: andale mono,times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times new roman,times;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>

Creating natural arrangements for Christmas

Arranging natural materials creatively requires knowledge of balance and proportion.  Some people seem to have natural instincts in this are...

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